Hydrazones of ketones, 1, are transformed into 1-chloroalkylazo compou
nds, 2, which react with Lewis acids to give transient 1-aza-2-azoniaa
llene salts, 3. The cations 3 react with with acetylenes, olefins, iso
cyanates, carbodiimides, and nitriles under [3+2]-cycloadditions. The
cycloadducts undergo consecutive reactions, e.g. [1,2]-shifts of alkyl
groups.